From Buziga to Brooklyn: The Ugandan Kid Who Might Run New York!
By the time the sun rose over New York City this morning, Kampala group chats were already buzzing with five or more voice notes, each dissecting the latest news. And what news it was!
Picture this: somewhere along the campaign trail, a random New Yorker casually mentions, “I used to live in Muyenga,” and Zohran Mamdani instantly responds, “Oh, I lived in Buziga.” That simple exchange sparked memories, laughter, and a profound sense of connection across continents.
Here’s the backstory: I spent two years living in Konge, and my friends and I called ourselves the “East Coast” crew. If your neighborhood was Muyenga, Kabalaga, Konge, Buziga, Munyonyo, or Gaba, you were proudly #EastCoast. And now, in a twist that feels almost cinematic, we’re claiming ‘joint custody’ of Zohran Mamdani, who also happens to live on the East Coast of the United States. Game meets game – from East Coast Buziga to East Coast, New York.
Once, he was a quiet, inquisitive intern. Angelo Izama recalls – as cited in Roduza’s vivid piece for Reuters – that Zohran tiptoed into the Daily Monitor newsroom with nothing but a notebook and curiosity. Fast forward to today, and that same young man is now staring down the most monumental headline of his life. From chasing quotes to possibly becoming the quote every newsroom wants: a 34-year-old Muslim kid from Buziga could very well become the next Mayor of New York City.
The thread connecting Namuwongo’s bustling streets to the blue subway lines of Queens has always been curiosity, resilience, and a stubborn hope. The boy who once briefed his father, Prof. Mamdani, on current affairs each evening has grown into the man who may dominate news cycles from New York to Namanve. The aspiring top reporter might now be the top story.
Ugandans everywhere are holding their breath. From Arua to Zzana, Astoria to the Bronx, families are watching every update. Aunties in Boston have already cooked celebratory meals; uncles in Masaka pretend not to care while secretly refreshing timelines. The East Coast crew is already drafting captions: “From Buziga Hill to City Hall – Ki ekiriwo, New York City?” But here’s the reality check – history doesn’t write itself. It depends on voters.
So if you’re in #NewYorkCity and haven’t cast your vote yet, this is your moment. Grab your jacket, MetroCard, your hopes, and even your doubts. Stand in line like it’s the Rolex queue at 2 a.m. in Wandegeya. Cast your ballot and become part of this improbably inspiring, beautifully Ugandan, thoroughly New York story.
Today, New York has a headline to write. Don’t just read it – live it. #voteZohran
Adapted from Twitter | Written by public health specialist Patrick Oyulu | @OyuluPatrick
